BY LERISSE SMITH There’s nothing better in life for Andy Parsons than grabbing his sparkly blue and white electric bass guitar and heading out for church each Sunday. It’s pure bliss, and he loves it. For this self-confessed atheist, being a member of the worship band at Berwick Corps in Melbourne is a great musical experience. “It gives me the opportunity to get out of the house and hug my instrument,” Andy said. “And it’s a chance to give back. Even though I am an atheist, I play at the worship band and attend church to support the wider community in Berwick. I attend with hopefully some experience (in playing an instrument) and helping them in the process. I love playing. “The ‘Higher Power’ for me is the community from the Salvos. I do appreciate the value worship gives to the people who believe. I can see it really enriches people’s lives with a sense of worth, a sense of belonging, a sense of community and I appreciate it. I was a drug addict and alcoholic in my past, and my life was transformed through The Salvation Army.” Andy is now further extending his musical journey as a member of the Timbarra Musos Jam Session held at the church. “Jam sessions helped me to learn my instrument as a teenager,” he said. “They are a useful tool in helping people who have learnt in the bedroom and at school. It’s a really good platform to get musos involved.” The jam sessions are open to people of every age, skill level, and music style, and they have been a natural extension for Andy, who has played for more than 50 years. And Andy hopes the jam sessions in the heart of Timbarra will inspire a community spirit and for people in the community to grab their instrument, singing voice, song ideas or anything else musically inspired and head on down to the church to experience a cool jam session with a difference. The idea to run the jam sessions was birthed out of wanting to rebuild community, especially after the isolation of the tough past few years. “It’s about helping people light up with what they love doing,” said Rob Koch, who initiated the jam session at his church and loves to play his sax. “Music brings people together. With COVID, I’m very aware as a community development person that social isolation is a huge issue even this far beyond the pandemic because we’re not quite beyond the pandemic. There are still people living in isolation, in fear. And they need a safe place to be able to venture out a little.” After thinking about how they could reach the community with a safe and welcoming space as part of the church’s vision, Rob conceived the idea of the jam session in the heart of Timbarra with the support of Colin Gould, who is on the church leadership team and Musical Director. “The main goal is to develop community, getting people connected, and just seeing the thrill that they get to actually make music with other people rather than solely alone,” Rob said. “For them to get excited that we’re able to pull a song together and that they’ve been able to contribute to that ... I think that’s amazing. It’s hard to develop as musicians just practising on your own, and not everyone can afford lessons. So, we believe music is a gift best shared.” And what should people expect at the jam sessions? “It depends on who comes!” Rob said. “We try to tailor the jam sessions to individual needs and suggestions. Understanding people’s goals helps. Normally, it will involve someone suggesting a song on the spot, and whoever wants to can chime in with their instrument or voice. Then we move to another, and so on. We may agree to work on a song at home for those who want to be more prepared.” “The main goal is to develop community, getting people connected ... we believe music is a gift best shared.” – Rob Koch Homework is not essential, and songs (and their key) can be posted on a group chat. Participants can then interact, answering questions and encouraging one another before giving it a go at the fortnightly jam sessions run every school term. With the help of Colin as the Musical Director, some songs will be arranged so all can find a part to play. The church also has its own PA system, microphones, bass amp, drum kit, keyboard and piano, which are available for the muso sessions. Rob said he had always been aware that churches were sitting idle for so much of the week, and Berwick Salvos had a great location and facility available to meet community needs. He believes the jam sessions, which started in November last year, could eventually lead to a concert, open mic nights, or the formation of bands, duos or choirs. Some musos may also want to play in the Sunday Café Church band as they could always do with some more musicians and singers. “I know the key to develop is to play along with other musicians,” Rob said. “I'm thinking about how many other people are out there, frustrated musicians who can't afford lessons, who don’t have confidence to sign up for something really serious.’’ Among those valuing the chance to jam with other like-minded musos is local community member Ron Micallef, who loves nothing better than banging the drums, a passion he has loved for many years. A seven-year-old piano player also joins in the fun and fellowship with his parents. “He’s an amazing maestro genius on the piano,” Rob said. “And I was just gobsmacked he plays classical rock.” Rob said it was important for those thinking of jamming with others at the Timbarra Musos Jam Sessions that they were encouraging and teachable – and showed patience and respect in a positive learning environment. “We want to help each other out without being pushy,” he said. “Listening is a skill we never stop practising – it’s how beautiful music is made.” For more details on the Timbarra Musos Jam Session, call Rob on 0432 439 943. (Children under 12 require adult supervision).

“It is very difficult to fathom the pain of people who have lost their loved ones since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, and those who continue to lose them on the frontlines and during terrible mass attacks on civilian infrastructure in the cities and villages of Ukraine,” said one Salvationist. “This especially affects the children.”   This Saturday, 24 February, marks the grim second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of military personnel on both sides have been killed and wounded. In Ukraine, more than 10,000 civilians have died, including hundreds of children. Ukrainians across the country are exhausted and traumatised, yet focused and determined. Much of the nation lies in ruins. Since the war began and the first refugees began crossing borders into Europe, The Salvation Army has been actively serving those affected by the conflict, in Ukraine and in 28 other countries across the continent (and beyond!), where many have been forced to flee. Having worked in Ukraine since 1993, The Salvation Army is focused on continuing its efforts during and after the hostilities, ensuring that people are supported now and in the future. To find out more about The Salvation Army's response, click here to see the exhibition at International Headquarters’ Gallery 101 . For additional photos taken since the beginning of the war, click here . To read more stories and testimonies from Ukraine on Salvos Online, click here . In Ukraine Across Ukraine, The Salvation Army has eight church and community centres. When the war began, initial support was offered to displaced people and those who could not leave the country through the provision of temporary accommodation, clothes, hygiene items and hot meals. Over time, this has been supplemented by meeting longer-term needs such as creative and playful activities for children, Wi-Fi, space for online schooling, clothing distribution, exercise classes, craft and cooking, art therapy, English lessons, youth activities such as table tennis and music, and spiritual and psychological support. In many corps, a place to be together in a loving and supportive environment, is critical. Sunday worship meetings, youth groups, Bible studies and Sunday school programs also continue and form the backbone of corps work. Despite their own challenges and incredibly difficult circumstances, Salvation Army officers, corps, employees and volunteers continue to serve and share God’s love and light in dark times. Not alone In response to damage from bombing, The Salvation Army has been working to support those most affected through the provision of essential supplies. Kharkiv has been a regular target, in part due to its proximity to the border with Russia. Many people have been unable to leave the city. Others, including Salvationists, have chosen to stay and assist others. In the Saltivka area of Kharkiv, the damage has been heavy, with broken windows, collapsed roofs and burnt and destroyed homes commonplace. Yuri’s home was badly affected. “My house was not damaged at all during the German occupation in the Second World War,” he said. The damage to the house worsens each week and Yuri is unable to keep on top of the repairs. Yuri is one of those helped with a recent distribution of essential supply kits by The Salvation Army. Each set contains a tent, two beds, two sleeping bags, tables, chairs, a stove with fuel and some utensils. Yuri was moved by this support and said: “Your kindness gives me hope and faith in the future because we are not alone.” After-school catch-ups Across Ukraine, The Salvation Army is developing after-school programs to support children whose education has been disrupted by schools being too unsafe to open, irregular timetables and constant time in bomb shelters. After-school programs are also being run elsewhere in Europe, particularly in Georgia, Moldova and Romania. These programs provide additional lessons in subjects like Ukrainian, Maths, English and Physics, and the extra hours of care mean that parents can work, knowing that their children are safe. Shelter near Kyiv Near the capital of Kyiv, a small, temporary housing complex has been set up and is supported by The Salvation Army. It provides accommodation to people who have been displaced due to their homes being destroyed. Two rows of prefabricated dormitories were placed together in a car park, each including communal bathrooms and kitchens. The Salvation Army supplied equipment for furnishing these homes and continues to provide regular support through the distribution of food and hygiene items. Power and connection After receiving donations of portable power stations from other countries, The Salvation Army has been able to offer places providing power and connection at its centres. Heating, water, electricity and mobile communication are available, with the intention that supply remains uninterrupted as far as possible. European response Across Europe, The Salvation Army continues to respond to the needs of displaced people from Ukraine. Four Salvation Army centres in  Poland  are distributing supermarket vouchers to displaced people from Ukraine in need of support. This allows people to choose the products they need the most. Dignity is an important part of The Salvation Army’s humanitarian response. In Malbork, people are visited by Salvation Army personnel rather than having to attend the organisation’s centre, allowing deeper relationships to be formed. A family from Ukraine is being supported in Starachowice . After seeking practical assistance from the organisation, they have also found community in The Salvation Army as a church. Hot meals are prepared every day in Batumi, Georgia. All staff currently employed for the project are from Ukraine. This provides work opportunities and enables them to share their knowledge of culturally appropriate food. Operating from newly refurbished facilities at its centre in the city, the scheme offers nutritious food and a space for community to those displaced by the war. Maria, who came to Batumi from Ukraine’s Kherson region with her daughter and granddaughter, described the impact of The Salvation Army’s work: “We are very grateful to this organisation that provides us with assistance: for delicious dinners, for support with products, and for very nice and kind people. We thank them for everything.” As people have fled Ukraine and come to  Moldova , The Salvation Army has opened its centres and headquarters building as places of welcome. Here meals, vouchers, bedding and other such items have been given to people who, in most cases, arrived with very little. In Ungheni, for instance, The Salvation Army provides breakfast for around 70 refugees three times a week. Temporary accommodation has also been offered in various locations across the country, as well as assistance in continuing to third countries. Smiles come back Language is not always a consideration in deciding which country to flee to, so one significant initiative in Le Havre,  France , is the French language lessons offered by Ukraine‑born Viktoriia Veremieienko. As a result of The Salvation Army’s efforts, around 500 refugees have also been supported through accommodation and community in Le Havre,  France . “The biggest challenge was finding a large amount of housing at short notice,” said Florence Fanelli-Faure, director of social work in Le Havre: “When the Ukrainian community arrived, we had no room left at all. We had to go everywhere to find some places.” The apartments are rented by The Salvation Army, then sub-let to the Ukrainian refugees. People are supported to find training – including French language lessons and work – meaning that they can fund their own accommodation in the long term. Iryna, a refugee from Ukraine, spoke positively about The Salvation Army: “They helped us with many things: with the place for living, with our questions. All that we have now is because The Salvation Army helped us.” Florence is positive about the impact of The Salvation Army on those displaced by the Russia–Ukraine war, and hopeful about the future. “I cannot say Ukrainians are happy in France; they are very sad about the situation,” she noted. “But I think as time goes [by], smiles come back.” PRAY FOR: ·       All the people affected by the war – for those who have been forced to flee, for those who have experienced loss, suffering and trauma, for the vulnerable, for those who are struggling to receive essential supplies. ·       Lasting peace in Ukraine – an end to the conflict. Pray for an end to violence and for the success of diplomatic solutions. ·       Everyone who is giving support to people affected by the conflict. Pray for those on the ground, those offering vital administrative and logistical assistance, for fundraisers and donors. Pray for those who are in Ukraine providing humanitarian aid and for those across the world who are helping displaced people and others who are suffering. ·       The work of The Salvation Army. Pray that we have good relationships with governments and other organisations as we support those in need. Pray for Salvation Army officers, staff and volunteers in Ukraine. Pray that we will listen to those with whom we come into contact and have the resources to be able to meet their needs. Read more about The Salvation Army’s work supporting those affected by the war:  Response to the Russia-Ukraine war Click on the arrow to the right on the image for a slideshow of life in Ukraine and The Salvation Army’s ministry.

In a new Army Archives series, BARRY GITTINS* brings you a selection of off-beat snippets from the files of Salvation Army history Love’s winged feet Being a Salvation Army officer doesn’t automatically qualify you as a relationship counsellor, matchmaker, or expert on romance. But the world is a curious place, God has a sense of humour, and Salvos have sometimes found themselves in the unexpected role of Cupid, or Cyrano de Bergerac. In 1951, Brigadier John McCabe OBE was serving the troops in Korea as a Salvation Army Red Shield Representative. As required, he was here, there and everywhere, serving drinks, providing care parcels and making himself available for a chat as needed. Soldiers and their worldview were not unknown to John, who’d been mentioned in despatches as a military chaplain in World War Two, in theatres of operation that included Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Ceylon, Papua and New Guinea, and in Japan. John had lost his father to the horrors of World War One and, as a young bloke in Bundaberg (Qld), he himself had “belonged to the Army cadet corps, and was a non-commissioned officer in the militia, before I went into The Salvation Army training college’.) Interviewed years later, John was asked what he did “when soldiers had troubles, letters from home that weren’t very good, or any sort of problems whatsoever – did they come to him?”This is one of John’s World War Two stories: “I don’t really know whether I was the first or the last resort ... different fellows would come to you and, you know, share their problems. “One fellow in particular in the battalion, Bill, came to me one day and he says, ‘I’ve got a letter here, Mac, can you read it for me? I don’t read very well.” “So, I said, ‘I’ll read it Bill.” We sat down with Bill’s letter, which was from his girlfriend. “‘That’s good,’ he says. “Bill didn’t read and write very well, he told me, and was worried that he’d ‘have to write to her, I s’pose’. “‘I’ll write for you,’ I offered. “I was single in those days, hadn’t married. So, I sat down and wrote a letter for Bill, putting in a bit of flowery stuff and so forth, and [in time] I sort of became Bill’s correspondent. I’d read his letters to him and sort of help him along his way with [words] and various other things, answering his letters. “Years after the war, I was wandering down Hunter Street in Newcastle (NSW) in Salvation Army uniform. Coming towards me was this big fellow. Now, Bill was not the most soldiery-looking person; he was rather a broad sort of a chap, you know; he walked very slowly. “This fellow was coming along towards me, and I thought, “By jingo, that’s Bill!” And sure enough, he greets me. “‘How are ya, Mac?’ he asks, adding, ‘I’d like ya to meet me wife.’ And he introduced me.“‘Dear,’ he tells her, ‘This is the padre what used to write all those love letters to you’ – so I got to meet this girl I’d been corresponding with. “Ah well, as they went on their way I turned around and looked at them, waddling down the street, and thought, ‘Ain’t love grand?’” Rabbits, cauliflowers and a conversion Some 101 years ago, in 1921, the Army’s War Cry reported that a labourer wandered into an English country corps’ Sunday meeting and plonked himself down in the back pew. Worshippers were surprised by the bloke’s companions from the animal and vegetable kingdoms – under his arms, he was carting around two rabbits and several cauliflowers. As the officer made a public appeal for prayer, the man, visibly crying, made his way to the mercy seat, accompanied by his unusual entourage. After the meeting, newly converted, the unnamed chap asked the captain to “go to the squire’s house with me. I trapped these two rabbits on his land and stole these cauliflowers from his garden”. Together they called on the squire who, after hearing the man’s confession and the story of his conversion, gave him the rabbits and cauliflowers and handed the captain a pound note for the corps fund. *Barry Gittins is The Salvation Army Museum assistant manager in Melbourne

BY LAUREN MARTIN A donation of computers from a local real estate agent to The Salvation Army’s Carinya Women’s Services in the Illawarra (NSW) will enable women and children experiencing homelessness to continue to have access to the internet to stay connected with loved ones and search for rental properties and jobs, as well as study. Belle Property was updating its technology and donated eight desktop and three laptop computers to The Salvation Army. Carinya Women’s Services Manager Sonya Button and Community Fundraising Relationship Manager Karen Walker accepted the donation on behalf of The Salvation Army. It’s the second time Belle Property has generously given away computers it was no longer using. Belle’s Principal and Licensee, Nicole Kay, said it’s an easy thing a company can do to ‘pay it forward’ to people in need. “What is required from a business point of view in terms of performance is different to someone who is just studying or needs a computer to access the internet,” she said. “Being able to give them to someone who might be able to make good use of them is wonderful.” Carinya is a family violence service for women and children experiencing homelessness based in the Illawarra region. Sonya said the computers have been distributed to The Salvation Army’s Family and Domestic Violence services in the Illawarra and Sydney, as well as The Salvation Army’s Safehouse for women who have experienced trafficking and slavery. “All the managers are extremely excited and very grateful,” she said. “Women in our community spaces are going to have the opportunity to look for rentals, keep in touch with family and things like that. “When you are at a refuge, it’s a confidential address, so you can’t have your friends and family over like a normal house. Having a computer with internet access is so important. Women can look for jobs and do their study, and their kids can use the devices for homework and study.”

Seven people made a significant step in their faith journey by being enrolled as members of The Salvation Army at Caloundra Corps (Qld) on Sunday. Barry Nimbs, Elaine Hans and Deb Lynch were enrolled as senior soldiers, while Leo Garbellotto, Michele Pere, Kevin Lawless and Tim Martin became adherents. Corps Officers Aux-Lieutenants Karen and Tim Clark conducted the swearing-in ceremonies before fellow Corps Officer Major Beth Twivey brought an inspiring message. “What an amazing morning spent together!” Karen said. “The testimonies that each of these people shared on Sunday morning were so encouraging. A common thread is that they felt like they had come home and were made to feel welcome, part of the family. Barry shared his testimony in song, with the old favourite ‘It is well with my soul’.” In term four last year, Tim and Beth conducted the ‘Foundations’ course (soldiership classes), where The Salvation Army’s doctrines and articles of faith were explored. The course not only looked at what The Salvation Army believed but challenged each person’s belief and trust in God and the person Jesus. “The course was held on a Tuesday night following our Community Dinner, and there was an open invitation extended for anyone who wanted to know more about the Army,” Karen said. “We had quite a few come along, and the seven enrolled on Sunday were those who wanted to take on the commitment of becoming a member of The Salvation Army.” To watch the service, go to the Caloundra Salvos Facebook page and click on the YouTube link in the enrolment post.

After going through the Bridge Program at William Booth House for gambling addiction, John took up the opportunity of becoming a volunteer with The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Defence Services. John says when he arrived, he was very low, but that volunteering in this capacity has changed his life. It has given him a purpose and has boosted his self-esteem.

To read Dawn’s tribute, click here

BY ANTHONY CASTLE Jessica Clancy’s debut book, The Quest for Family, takes readers through her life journey from a place of brokenness to a place of spiritual renewal. The book explores her struggles from an abusive childhood to a newfound experience of family in adulthood. Jessica lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two children. “I am very thankful for where my life is now,” Jessica shares. “It’s not been easy. From an early age, God had his hand on me. The Bible tells us we have a purpose and a plan. I’m very thankful for that because if you’ve lived with a lot of suffering and gone through a lot of dark places, it’s easy to give up.” By her sixth birthday, Jessica’s mum had been married three times. From an early age, she experienced a cycle of neglect and abuse, which continued throughout her childhood. At the age of 12, she discovered that the man she called ‘dad’ was not her biological father. As a child, Jessica was moved across the US many times and exposed to physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect and domestic violence. These experiences of abuse repeated in later years. “I lived with a boyfriend and went through the same patterns, with no boundaries,” Jessica says. “I could have been robbed at gunpoint or gotten into trafficking. I could have died in random cars driving down the freeway. I could have been homeless, on the street. God provided many people over the years who were his hands and feet. In all the times we moved, God knew what I needed, and so many people filled that role. These people are why I am who I am, they shaped and moulded me. My book really speaks to drawing people’s attention to the needs of others, to be family and community for others.” Jessica describes her life as a series of challenges and miracles. After having a number of abusive experiences with different stepfathers, Jessica was able to reconnect with her biological father. Writing about these experiences was cathartic; the book a result of the COVID-era and personal loss. “My husband would make a joke sometimes and say, ‘When are you going to start writing?’” Jessica laughs. “I started to write during COVID after my grandmother passed away. She was my rock. My grandparents knew something was wrong as I was growing up, seeing the dysfunction. As an adult, I would call my grandma weekly and talk to her and process the trauma. She was always supportive of me. “I wrote a letter to my biological father and met him. Once I found my dad, I learned he didn’t know I had been born. I had all these brothers and cousins I didn’t know about. My life could have been very different.” The Quest for Family is a real-life fairy tale of faith and family, a memoir of how one person can journey out of trauma and dysfunction. Jessica and her husband have been foster parents for five years (with the book endorsed by their case worker). Jessica shares her story as an example to others, hoping it can help those in similar situations. “I want to encourage people to help, to consider being a foster parent,” Jessica says. “We didn’t do it for the money; we both had careers. There are a lot of kids and a lot of needs, and you have to know what your limits are in helping. I don’t want people to be afraid to help, though, but you do need to know what you’re getting into. “Often we look at people and have no idea what they are going through, what they’re facing, and sometimes we write people off. We dismiss value in other people. Everyone deserves a chance; we should all be family and help each other. I want people who go through these things to know it’s not normal, it’s not okay, it’s not your fault. It’s hard to understand, and I want my story to help people connect, to get healing, to talk about it, to not be ashamed, and to bring light to the darkness.” The Quest for Family book is available from https://www.jessicaclancyperseveres.com/ and retails for $30.60* (paperback) or $13* (Kindle). *Pricing may vary depending on exchange rates. To read a review of the book, click here

BY SIMONE WORTHING Several Salvos have been honoured with Australia Day awards for their service to the community. The recipients were recognised during Australia Day award ceremonies at the end of January. Barb Power – OAM Barb Power, The Salvation Army’s General Manager Safeguarding, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of her service to child welfare organisations. “I feel completely humbled and privileged,” said Barb. “I have no idea who nominated me or how this came about. I’m just so completely blown away by this significant honour!” Barb has spent her “almost 30-year career” working in child welfare organisations. “My focus has always been child protection and child safeguarding,” she said. “I have held various roles, and probably one of the most important roles to me was my work as a child sexual assault counsellor, helping children heal, advocating for them and seeing things change for the better for them. “Working in child protection is all about working alongside people to help create safety and trust and community connection for families and children in particular. In a previous child advocate role, my advocacy work with a child witness was the ‘test case’ which brought about standardised video conferencing of evidence given by children in court proceedings. Prior to this work, children had no choice but to give evidence in front of alleged sexual offenders in the courtroom.” Barb enjoys her role with The Salvation Army as head of the safeguarding team, a position she has held for almost two years. “I have a great team of dedicated people,” she said. “I think it is also great to be receiving this award whilst working for Australia’s oldest and respected charity. “I feel deeply humbled and privileged to be honoured with the Medal of Australia Award (OAM). Not only does it recognise my contribution but also the sector, those workers who came before me and those workers still to come. But most importantly, the children. I have always had a strong belief in the philosophy of childhood and childhood as a human right and to me, this award reinforces that belief.” Barb is based at Territorial Headquarters in Melbourne. Jeffrey Maclean – AM Jeffrey (pictured), who is based in Brisbane, has been an active member of the Red Shield Appeal Committee since 2007. Jeffrey was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “significant service to the community through a range of organisations, including the Queensland Brain Institute.” Nicholas Carbines – PSM Nick, as he is known, serves as Services Australia Community Partnership Specialist at The Salvation Army’s Project 614 in Melbourne, a role he took on in August 2022. Prior to that, Nick worked in the public service for 22 years, with 20 years in community services supporting some of Australia’s most vulnerable community members. Nick was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) “For outstanding public service in the provision of payments and supporting those most vulnerable and experiencing homelessness across inner city Melbourne.” Nick has supported over 530 Services Australia customers through his role as a community partnership specialist officer, within the Community Partnership Pilot program, where he has been co-located with Project 614. The award citation highlighted the “strong collaborative relationships with The Salvation Army’s staff and volunteers” that Nick has built and the “effective relationships with customers who are isolated from mainstream support and services,” that he has created. These vulnerable community members are those who are otherwise unable to access service centres, engage over the phone or navigate digital channels and would therefore not be receiving critical social welfare payments and assistance. Nick has quickly established and built new relationships within The Salvation Army, actively contributing to the development of the pilot and supporting his colleagues navigate their role and build relationships with other partner non-government organisations. Nick’s is highly respected by his peers and colleagues. “Nick has been instrumental in building pathways between Services Australia, Project 614 and clients to ensure equitable access to government services for vulnerable Australians,” said Major Brendan Nottle, Team Leader, Melbourne Project 614. Nick said he felt humbled by the award. “I work with a large and hard-working team, so this award is really a team one,” he said. “I am full of praise for everyone at Project 614 and Services Australia and all that is done to engage with vulnerable members of the community and build successful outcomes for them.” Significant Contribution Salvation Army volunteers and personnel in the NSW Hunter region were honoured with a ‘Significant Contribution’ award for their service to the community during the Hunter Valley bus tragedy in June 2023. Ten people were killed and 25 taken to hospital from the crash. The Salvation Army’s SAES Hunter and Central Coast regional coordinator, Hans Schryver, said volunteers gave their time to assist with catering and a listening ear at the site for 10 days following the tragedy. The award was presented to the SAES at a Cessnock City Council Australia Day Celebrations and Awards ceremony. Zoe Hannam – Citizen of the Year award The Salvation Army’s Family Store manager at Inverell in northern NSW has been recognised for her service to the community with an Australia Day Local Citizen of the Year award. Four years ago, Zoe Hannam, who manages the Inverell Family Store four days a week, decided to act on the desires of her heart and set up a community soup kitchen called Food for the Soul. Inverell Corps jumped on board and offered its kitchen and hall for the initiative. Food for the Soul runs every Wednesday night and also provides a meal for people in need on Christmas Day. The awards ceremony, hosted by the Inverell Shire Council, was held in Victoria Park on Australia Day. Zoe said receiving the award was a surprise: “I’m humbled, but it was a great opportunity to promote the soup kitchen.” EDITOR’S NOTE: Every effort has been made by the Salvos Online team to list Salvationists who have received awards. If you know of any other Salvationists recognised in Australia Day awards, please let us know by commenting below or emailing salvosonline@salvationarmy.org.au

The Salvation Army’s Family Store manager at Inverell in northern NSW has been recognised for her service to the community with an Australia Day Local Citizen of the Year award. Four years ago, Zoe Hannam, who manages the Inverell Family Store four days a week, decided to act on the desires of her heart and set up a community soup kitchen called Food for the Soul. Inverell Corps jumped on board and offered its kitchen and hall for the initiative. Food for the Soul runs every Wednesday night and also provides a meal for people in need on Christmas Day. The awards ceremony, hosted by the Inverell Shire Council, was held in Victoria Park on Australia Day. Zoe said receiving the award was a surprise: “I’m humbled, but it was a great opportunity to promote the soup kitchen.” Congratulations Zoe! – Lauren Martin

Jessica Clancy’s debut book, The Quest for Family takes readers through her life journey from a place of brokenness to a place of spiritual renewal and enlightenment. The book explores her struggles from childhood to adulthood, with her life severely impacted by the actions of her negligent mother who remarried several times and moved her around the US where she was exposed to physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, and domestic violence. “Our lives can often feel like shattered glass, and once it breaks, it is impossible to put back together on our own,” Jessica says. “We try to pick up the pieces, but just hurt ourselves more, often feeling hopeless and helpless.” An astounding 39.6 per cent of Australians aged 16-65 are affected by domestic violence, with 32 per cent having experienced physical abuse, and 30.9 per cent impacted by emotional abuse. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study revealed that child maltreatment resulted in significantly increased levels of major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety, alcohol use, and post-traumatic stress. “I believe our past does not define us,” Jessica says. “It is only part of the journey if we allow it to stretch and grow us. I am not defined by the things that happened to me. I am defined as a child of God.” Jessica’s faith and determination helped her to break the chains of her past and build a new life, first as a hairdresser and then a specialist dialysis dietician. One of her proudest achievements has been to create a happy family with her husband and their two children. Jessica and her husband Adam have been licensed foster parents for five years. “Just as your past does not define you, remember to love others and not make judgements on their past or mishaps,” Jessica says. “You don’t have to stay hiding in the darkness of your past. You can step into the light to be exposed and redeemed.” The Quest for Family book is available from https://www.jessicaclancyperseveres.com/

BY LAUREN MARTIN As The Salvation Army grapples with what church looks like in a post-COVID world, two missional Salvos have stepped out in faith and are modelling one way to be ‘church’ outside of a building. Major Sandra McLean is The Salvation Army Australia’s General Manager of the ‘Generations and Faith’ stream in the Mission Support Department. It’s a long job title, but basically, she’s a woman on a mission to help Salvos across Australia connect people to Jesus in new ways. “I spend a lot of time talking to people about new models of faith community, but I felt that people don’t always know where to begin,” she says, adding that the familiar model of church is very clearly in decline, so new ways of being God’s people are essential. Salvation Army leaders – from the Territorial Commander to Divisional Commanders and Area Officers are giving corps leaders permission to go out and try new things. However, the existing model of Sunday gathered worship is still the predominant way of being church in The Salvation Army. “We are encouraging officers to reimagine what it means to be a movement rather than a form of church that is set in stone,” she says. Last year, Sandra and a colleague within her stream, Major Bryce Davies, decided that God was telling them not just to empower and encourage new missional expressions of The Salvation Army but to start one themselves to model to others what they can look like. So, they both started ‘Walking Churches’ – a regular walking group with an intentional focus on having meaningful conversations and time for prayer and fellowship. Sandra and her husband Andrew’s Walking Church is connected to Merri-bek Corps in Melbourne and meets at a local park on the first Saturday of the month. “It’s a very simple format,” explains Sandra. “We read a scripture at the start and that’s the focus of the discussion as we walk for about five kilometres. We have had up to nine people come along; sometimes, we have had just one.” But Sandra’s not worried about numbers. “What we have found is that the people who have come are meant to be there,” she says. After the walk, everyone sits at a park table and shares a BYO lunch. In the week after the gathering, Sandra and Andrew will message the people who attended to check in with them and ask them how they’re doing. If there is a specific prayer request, they will follow up and continue to pray. In traditional churches, this is called ‘pastoral care’; for Sandra, this is simply modelling what it means to live in loving community with one another. In Brisbane, Bryce’s Walking Church meets every two weeks on a Sunday afternoon at a local park. His group starts things differently, with silence. “We start with quite intentional quiet walking; the 10 minutes in silence is about asking God what’s on your heart, what do you need to share about,” he says. “The next 50 minutes is an opportunity to chat about anything. “The people who have come along have – 100 per cent of the time – said it’s been really helpful for them. And they have felt like they’ve been heard.” Like Sandra’s group, Bryce’s group shares a BYO meal in the park at the end of the walk, with the sharing of a meal together being an integral part of the ‘Walking Church’ model. But … is it church? “Is it the Church? What do we call it?” Sandra laughs when asked the question because she’s been asked it a thousand times. “I don’t know if I even want to stop and analyse it! It’s about giving people a way to encounter Jesus.” She says that most people can agree that being the Church in our world is not about meeting at a certain time and in a certain format. “It’s about worship, it’s about prayer, it’s about community and learning from each other. “It really is just an exploration of what it means to be the church rather than go to church. What it means to be a follower of Jesus, and what does that look like in our lives. We want to get to know the people that come and disciple one another in love.” It’s early days for Walking Church, but the holy spirit is moving. Sandra McLean’s ‘Generations and Faith’ steam is launching a Renewal Initiative where corps officers across Australia will be invited to join two cohorts for peer-to-peer learning and collaborative training on new missional ways of being church.